Julieanne Kost at Texas School TWO PRESENTATIONS on APRIL 25 in DALLAS

official publication of the Texas Professional photographers association, inc. VOLUME 50 No. 3 April/May 2015

Publishing Editor Bill Hedrick, M.Photog.Cr. COVER PHOTO 1506 E. Leach St. The cover image, “Through Love’s Kilgore, TX 75662 Gate,” was created by David Sixt of 903-985-1080 San Antonio, Texas. The image won a [email protected] Distinguished Ribbon at the SWPPA Print Competition at PhotoGenesis 2015. Executive Director Doug Box, M.Photog.Cr P.O. Box 1120 Caldwell, TX 77836 979-272-5200 [email protected]

Printed by Complete Printing 1501 W. Panola Carthage, TX 75633 800-964-9521 www.CompletePrinting.com

Complete financial information on Texas Professional Photographers Association is available to any TPPA member by contacting Doug Box, Executive Director, P.O. 1120, Caldwell, TX 77836 IN THIS ISSUE [email protected]. DEPARTMENTS Ben Ellision Passes Away 7 Past President of Texas PPA Inspirations by Bill Hedrick 5 A Message from TPPA President, Stephanie Ludlow Fashion Posing for Women Join Texas PPA Today 8 Fashion Skills in Action 5 If You Love Photography by Bry Cox Spotlight: Gabriel Alonso Welcome to Summerfest 2015 13 “The Centennial” 15 All New Summer Seminar on Lake Conroe by Steve Kozak Spotlight: Gail Nogle 31 “Music Lesson” SWPPA Print Winners News from Around the State 32 From PhotoGenesis 2015 courtesy of SWPPA 39 What is Happening Around Texas Outdoor Sports Lighting 34 No More People Shooting Over Your Shoulder! by Randy Pollard CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sweet Light April 25, 2015 Julianne Kost at Texas School Addison, Texas 40 Improve Your Outdoor Portraiture by Doug Box April 26 - May 1, 2015 Texas School Addison, Texas Julianne Kost at Texas School Two Presentations on April 25 June 28 - July 1, 2015 TPPA Summerfest 42 Lake Conroe, Texas by Don Dickson Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2016 TPPA PhotoGenesis ‘16 San Marcos, Texas

The Texas Professional Photographer is the official publication of the Texas Professional Photographers Association, Inc., published bi-monthly for members and others for information of industry matters, personal achievements, and news of this and other associations. Acceptance of advertising or publishing of press releases does not imply endorsement of any product or service by this association, publisher or editor. Permission is granted to similar publications of the photographic industry to reprint contents of this publication, provided that the author and Texas Professional Photographer are credited as the source. Articles, with or without photographs, are welcomed for review for inclusion in this publication. However, the editor reserves the right to refuse publication, or if accepted, the right to edit and use on a space available basis. Send all communications, articles, or advertising to: Editor, Texas Professional Photographer, 1506 E. Leach St., Kilgore, Texas 75662. Telephone (903) 985-1080, or [email protected].

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 3 2015 Executive Council Focus on Education 2015 President Stephanie Ludlow [email protected] 205 N. Mays, Round Rock, TX 78644 (512) 246-0063 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

Vice-President Steve Kozak [email protected] exas School is almost here! It is the time when my very patient husband My best advice while attending Texas School is the following. 5323 Fig Tree Ln., Grand Prairie, TX 75052 (972) 601-9070 Ttiptoes around the house because he knows how stressful it can be during the 1. Be friendly! Meet the people around you. Introduce yourself. weeks that lead up to the event. I basically eat, sleep, and drink Texas School and 2. Take lots of notes so that you can refer back to the information later when Treasurer Trey Homan most nights even I wind up dreaming about Texas School. I consider myself very you leave Texas School. [email protected] lucky to have worked with the other team members for close to 20 years. Texas 3. Latch on to a couple key ideas to learn... don’t stress yourself out trying to 17222 Classen Rd., San Antonio, TX 78247 (210) 497-3809 School is truly one of my passions, mainly because it revolves around learning. learn it all. 4. Go to the evening events and hang out. This is where you make friendships Secretary Tammy Graham Powerful things take place at the Texas School of Professional Photography. that will last a lifetime. [email protected] The presence of over a thousand people in one place who have the same passion 5. Keep a positive attitude. Your instructor is sharing part of themselves with 2613 Weisenberger, Ft. Worth, TX 76107 (817) 300-0780 generate an amazing synergy. Texas School starts out with “the one, the only, you to make you even better than you already are. the Adobe Photoshop Goddess,” Julieanne Kost. Julieanne continues to be the Councilman-at-Large Ross Benton steadfast leader in education for Adobe products. If you are not signed up for Texas School, we still have room for you. We [email protected] can always make room for just one more. Go to texasschool.org for the latest 1876 Nacogdoches Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 804-1188 I remember the first time she came to Texas School as an instructor back when information. we were in College Station. Julieanne needed an extra Wacom tablet pen and she Councilman-at-Large Marla Horn borrowed mine for the week for her class. When it was returned to me I almost Finally, mark your calendar and start packing up the family for TPPA Summerfest [email protected] felt as if the pen now had magical Photoshop powers. Unfortunately, it didn’t--but at La Torretta Spa and Resort on Lake Conroe at the end of June. This family 10716 Camelot Drive., Frisco, TX 75035 (972) 567-8613 it made me smile when I used it knowing that one of the people that I admire most event is one you don’t want to miss. Tons of stuff for the kids to enjoy while you in this industry had used it. are learning at photo seminars or slipping away to the spa. Memories and TPPA Chairman of the Board Mark McCall traditions are sure to be made at Summerfest. Register at TPPA.org/summerfest. [email protected] This year Julieanne Kost returns on Saturday, the day prior to the start of Texas 602 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 (806) 783-3003 School, for a full day of education. If you are attending Texas School then you Keep in focus, receive discounted admission for the seminar. At full price the seminar is still a Executive Director Doug Box great value so come and join us for the day, too! Stephanie Huebinger Ludlow, Master Cr. Photographer [email protected] Texas PPA President 2015 P.O. Box 1120, Caldwell, TX 77836 (979) 272-5200

Texas School Director Don Dickson [email protected] 1501 West 5th, Plainview, TX 79072 (806) 296-2276 Membership Categories & Rates Magazine Editor Bill Hedrick [email protected] Professional Active $95 - Open to photographers and employees of 1506 E. Leach St., Kilgore, TX 75662 (903) 985-1080 photographers who sell photographic services as a business and photographers employed by a firm whose main business is selling photographs. State Law requires that all such individuals hold a Texas Limited Sales Tax permit.

Limited Associate $85 - Open to individuals seriously interested in photography and are engaged in an occupation other than photography.

PPA Councilors Student $50 - Open to full time students preparing for a career in photography, in a college or approved vocational/technical school.

Gabriel Alonso (Ft. Worth), Doug Box (Caldwell), Service Firm $90 - Open to manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories and Don Dickson (Plainview), Walter Eagleton (Denton), businesses supplying photographers; includes one person’s membership. Elizabeth Homan (San Antonio), Trey Homan (San Antonio), Staff Associate $55 - Open to individuals employed by a Professional Active Steve Kozak (Grand Prairie), Dwayne Lee (Arlington), or Service Firm member or the spouse of a Professional Active member. Staff Stephanie Ludlow (Round Rock), Mark McCall (Lubbock), Associate membership may be accepted only if employer is current member. Cliff Ranson (McAllen), Richard Sturdevant (Garland), Out of State $65 - Note: Only Professional Active members have all Judy Dumas (Early). membership rights. Spouses of Professional Active members are exempt from dues, unless they elect to become a Professional Active member in order to vote or exhibit prints. Limited Associate, Out of State, Student, Service or Staff Associate To contact any of your PPA Councilors, you may obtain their members may not vote, hold office or enter photographs in competition, unless a phone numbers from the TPPA Membership Directory special category has been established for them. or visit our website at www.tppa.org

4 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer April/MayTexas Professional 2015 Photographer April/May 2015 55 Texas PPA Past President Ben Ellison (1942 - 2015)

by Bill Hedrick

exas PPA lost a good friend and long-time supporter when Ben Ellison, past Ben often remarked about how his wife, Ann, was more than a wife. She was Tpresident of our association, passed away on February 6 in Odessa, Texas, his constant companion until the end and a source of constant inspiration. She after a lengthy illness. worked at his side in the studio and handled the everyday tasks associated with running a successful portrait studio. His career in photography began in 1970 in Odessa when he was working for a large petrochemical company and local photographer of a bi-weekly newspaper Their whirlwind romance back in 1961 is the kind of thing you read about in asked Ben to photograph a bride and groom. Those early images were taken romance novels. “We actually met in January of that year, became engaged in with a 4x5 camera using black and white film. Not long after that, Ben was April, and were married in July,” he recalled. They were an inseparable pair at all photographing weddings on weekends. Texas PPA events and their teamwork was the envy of many couples who jointly run a studio. For awhile, things were going well for Ben but his supervisor didn’t like the idea of one of his employees having another career on the side and decided to “throw Ben was also a pilot and owner of a Cessna 172. “Everyone has a hobby and men a monkey wrench” in the works by putting Ben on weekend shifts when he have their toys, so mine is aviation,” he once said. “There is something about already had some weddings booked. The time had come to make a major career flying over things and surveying them from several thousand feet in the air that decision and Benjamin’s Photography was born. makes you realize just how small and insignificant we are in the grand scheme of life. It is an exhilarating, yet humbling experience,” he explained. Owning an Any kind of career change can be traumatic, but what convinced Ben Ellison airplane also worked well with his photography business and Ben did his share of to make that major step to walk away from a large company and open a studio aerial photography. was the encouragement and support of his wife, Ann. In a 2003 interview, Ben recalled, “When I first contemplated becoming a full-time photographer, Ann The Texas Professional Photographers Association was near and dear to Ben’s told me, ‘You can do it!’ Since that time, she has spoken those same words to me heart. When he took over as TPPA President in 2003, he commented, “All of again and again. When I look back over 42 years of marriage and 32 years as a my photographic training has come from TPPA conventions and seminars, as professional photographer, I realize that the only reason I could do anything was well as other professional photographers I’ve met over the years who were also that she told me I could. But, more importantly, I also realize that I could not involved in the association. My membership in the Texas PPA has been the most have done it alone.” rewarding experience of my professional life. It is a huge ‘family’... people you can laugh with and learn from.” Ben was 61 years old when he was the President of Texas PPA. It was a time when other photographers his age were frustrated at the new “digital world.” But Ben commented at the time that his goals for the association were “modest, yet Ben embraced the new technology from its concept and set the standards in his significant.” As he put it, “I believe that Texas PPA exists for the benefit of the market area for creativity and excellence. High school seniors were particularly members. Learning should be the number one goal. However, it should also be a impressed with the creative aspects of digital imaging and they were his favorite fun experience. We should keep things in perspective and do it with some sense subjects to photograph. of humor. Life is too short.”

His studio was situated in one of the oldest structures in Odessa, dating back to Knowing Ben Ellison and being his friend has been one of the most memorable about 1910 when it was used by the railroad company. The wood frame structure and inspirational events of my own lifetime. He was a kind and gentle man who required constant care and attention and the maintenance became a “family loved photography and devoted his career to serving the profession he loved. He project.” Much of the work was done by his son, Steve. Ben was proud of his son will be remembered for the fine person he was and will be missed by those who and most grateful for his help. loved and admired him.

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 7 Fashion Posing for Women Part 3: Fashion Skills in Action

by BRY COX

n the last two parts of this series, I shared my one rule of fashion posing So let’s see those points Iwhich is to make women conserve space visually so that every part of them in action using a shoot I looks smaller. I also shared my system of creating within short “idea sets” did as a crowd demo while of 3-5 images, never shooting the same thing twice, making small and slight instructing at Texas School. refinements within the set, but doing something different after about three shots. The metadata shows under 5 minutes of actual We also talked about turning off the ‘Auto-Preview’ on your camera and never shooting from the first shot looking at the back, getting completely into the shoot, interacting with your to the end, and these all model, and being aware of every detail. We also talked about letting little things look good because of my normal pre-flight systems check that I teach, making go, balancing the war in the mind between the technical and creative sides of my lighting, exposure, and color balance perfect in camera. So what you are the brain. seeing are un-retouched, un-corrected and un-cropped.

No matter the time, the goal is always quality not quantity. In this case, even in a short period of time and while teaching, I ended up with about 35 total images. Let’s zoom in and look at a few in the first “idea set.”

In saying hi to this model, I saw she had a scarf with her gear. Her in black with the background being dark, I thought the yellow would add some pop. I said, “Let’s use that scarf of yours. Wrap it around you and have fun with it…” She did and with a little interaction and teasing, I got a perfect, glowing smile, Example #1.

Her smile is genuine and her eyes are glowing. It’s a moment that works and is candid. Her wrists are bent in, making them smaller, her shoulders and hip are turned such that they are smaller.

But I began to refine within the “idea set.” I turned her further away from my main light to shadow her stomach, making her look even smaller. I twisted her shoulder back towards me for curvier lines and a slimmer look. She naturally straightened

8 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer her arms and bent in her wrists which was really good. I turned her head back towards her shoulder and said something for a serious expression and we have Example #2.

Notice that she is naturally standing on her front leg. I would normally change that, but in rare circumstances it works and here it works, so I let it be.

In general though, every woman looks better with the weight on the back leg meaning that her front knee is bent (the knee most towards you). Why? Because it makes her hips and waist look smaller visually, meaning we are conserving visual space to go back to my one rule of posing from Part 1. Smaller means thinner.

From there I wanted her to lean towards me and bring her chin down just slightly. She did, but leaned too much and brought her chin down too much and her wrists naturally straightened out, Example #3. There’s too much to Example #1 Example #2 Example #3 fix, I was at the end of the set, and I already felt I had a clear winner. So I had her shake it off by changing everything and beginning the next new idea set.

To start this off I said, “What if you were wrapped in your scarf like you were cold.” I had her turn into my light and we have Example #4. It’s good, but could be better. I liked her head turned to the side but any more and I would have lost the back eye. Turning her head a bit more would mean her back eye would be gobbled up between the edges of her face and her nose. It was getting smaller too, so I turned her chin back towards me, Example #5.

This was even better but I wasn’t sure of the expression or the wrists. I had her take a deep breath and shift her stance and arms. This slight refinement and lips open, and I have my clear winner of the set, Example #6.

For the next set, I got rid of the scarf. I started chatting and observing her natural stance. Her weight was on her back leg, her waist turned slightly, and you can see both sides of her waist (which keeps her middle section from being blocked up and looking thick). She’s playing with her hands wondering what to do with them, but it’s feminine and works. With the right interaction, Example #4 Example #5 Example #6 she brightens up and we have Example #7.

I then helped her with her hands and suggested putting one hand in her front pocket and one in her back. Her front pockets were fake though, so we hitched her thumb on her belt loop instead. Again, I’m trying to keep her arms from blocking up her body so she looks thinner, Example #8.

From there I refine by having her lean towards me. I stretch up for a high camera angle, said something that got a genuine laugh, Example #9.

Final Retouching - There are more images to share, and I’ll go through them in the final part 4 of the series. But let’s look at a couple of these finished and retouched.

Again, taking control of exposure and color balance at the time of the shoot may take a minute or two, but it saves me tons of time on the computer later. Computer time then becomes a breeze. Example #7 Example #8 Example #9 If you do what I teach, there is no need for adjustments. Lighting was specifically used to flatter and make her skin and eyes pop. That means I don’t need any over-the-top skin blur techniques and I don’t need to add fake catch lights in her eyes.

My computer time is just being picky to select favorites, and then jazzing them up a bit.

Compare these final versions to the previous un-retouched versions. I did some slight retouching, I created some color effects using light leaks from my PowerPack Action Set, and I finished these off with some of my own custom edges from my Edgy Edges Collection. These are now signed, ready for printing. In his class at the Texas School of Professional Photography, Of course, I teach all of this and more at Texas School. Come train Bry will share his system to create images that are creative with me, and in the meantime, check out more of my tutorials at and emotional while being technically awesome. Your BryCoxWORKSHOPS.com. images will be different, fresh, and won’t require a lot of post-production work. “Celebrity Style Imaging” is the Good luck and Happy Shooting! trademarked name of Bry’s studio because he photographs everyday clients the same way as VIP clients.

10 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer “The Centennial” - Gabriel Alonso created this image in Green Bay, Wisconsin, while judging at the North Central District Print Competition and teaching at the convention. It is a portrait of B. Artin Haig, a Master-Craftsman who was turning 100 years old. Haig was telling of how he had been a friend of Yousuf Karsh, one of the great portraitists of the 20th Century. Gabriel decided to use Haig as a model in his teaching demonstration in honor of his 100th birthday and do it in the style of Karsh to honor his influence and friendship. The image was made on the hotel staircase using only available light. Gabriel used a Leica M9 with a 50mm f1.4 lens with an exposure of f5.6 at 1/30 sec. at ISO 160. The finished image was accepted in the PPA Master Loan Collection and was displayed at Imaging USA in Nashville.

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 13

by STEVE KOZAK

o what makes Summerfest so unique? First, we selected a world class location with the La Torretta Resort. Wow! You are going to be impressed! The resort sits Samong the piney woods on the shores of Lake Conroe. You can read more about La Torretta at www.TPPA.org. Then, we asked ourselves, “How can we put together an educational event for photographers of various skill levels to maximize their learning opportunities?” We looked at other events to see what worked and what didn’t and kicked around some new ideas and we came up with the slate of speakers and programs that are devoted to one thing…YOUR SUCCESS! We have formatted the programming so that there is less sitting and more doing. For example, you could sit and listen to a program on underwater photography, but at Summerfest, you are getting in the pool! It does not get any more “hands on” than that.

While we have made a lot of changes to our summer event, several things will remain. Summerfest is still a huge family event – that was a priority! So imagine the smile on your kids’ faces when you pull up to La Torretta and they see a water park complete with slides, a lazy river and more. They will enjoy putt-putt, a teen hang-out with video games, making s’mores and other organized activities and games throughout the day led by the La Torretta staff.

So, if you think all of this is impressive, just take a look at the program lineup....

Simply Be - Lifestyle Seniors BRAD BARTON Grand Prairie, TX Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am

here are few better ways to the core of your senior client’s personality Tthan to spend a few hours with them on location. These sessions are great for creating simple, high quality images that can be turned into big album and folio sales.

First, we will discuss how to talk to your client about wardrobe and location choices during the consultation. Then, we will demonstrate finding available light and supplementing light with off-camera flash and studio strobes on a battery pack. Using my simple setup for lighting, you’ll learn how to get a better quality of light without having to limit yourself to just the “golden hours” – and do it all without breaking the bank on equipment or spending hours in post processing.

Brad is a North Texas photographer specializing in art portraits and actor headshots. He has had a camera in his hands as long as he can remember and got his professional start doing freelance photojournalism and event photography in college. Graduating with a degree in Math, his professional photography career was put on hold for awhile, but ultimately he came back to his first love. Over the last 10 years, he has worked at establishing himself as one of the premier headshot photographers in Dallas and has had images published in a number of books and national magazines, as well as had the opportunity to photograph many celebrities including Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), and Lar Park Lincoln (Knot’s Landing and Friday the 13th Part VII).

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 Landscape Photography - The Craft & The Art Families... Are You and Your Client Prepared? DOUG & LAURA BENNETT KARI DOUMA Colorado Springs, CO Grandville, MI

Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am Monday 9:30 am - 11:30 am Sponsored by Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am

oug and Laura Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colorado, have Dlearned that Landscape Photography must demonstrate not only mastery of craft and technique, but also a mastery of vision and expression. In their Monday presentation, Doug and Laura will share elements of photographic craft and technique for landscape photography that are essential to the technical excellence for high quality large landscape prints and for PPA Competition entries. In sharing these techniques, they will also discuss the underlying “whys.”

On Tuesday, Doug and Laura will move to the heart of landscape photography... the goal of communicating amilies are an integral part of every person, and they need to be documented! Join Kari as she shows you your emotions and artistic vision in an image. Ansel Adams had it right when he said, “Photograph not only Fhow she prepares for and photographs every family session. She will show you how careful planning what you see, but also what you feel.” Great photography is about making images that connect with viewers with the family plays not only a part in the session, but in the final sale as well. From the planning meeting, making them feel something about the subject. This presentation will also include some outdoor shooting to lighting and photographing, to the sales room, you will learn to create a final product that your client will sessions to put into practice the things you will learn. As a special bonus, Doug and Laura will be doing two love, and a sale that you will be happy with! guided sunrise sessions on the shores of Lake Conroe starting at 6:00 am on Monday and Tuesday. Kari Douma, M.Photog., M. Craft., CPP, is a certified professional photographer in the West Michigan area Doug and Laura both received the PPA Master’s Degree from PPA and, in 2014, were both named PPA and has earned her reputation as one of Michigan’s premiere wedding and portrait photographers. Kari has Diamond Photographers of the Year. Doug’s love for landscape photography traces back to his childhood a retail studio just outside of Grand Rapids, and families are an important part of her business. Kari has and family sightseeing vacations touring the western U.S. and Canada by car. These early experiences were developed her passion of photography into a distinctive craft through her discriminating eye and commitment further fueled by his father’s subscription to “Arizona Highways” magazine which always left him in awe to excellence. She loves to build relationships with her clients. When they need a photographer, whatever with its beautiful scenic images, particularly those of Josef Muench. their needs, they call her.

Photo-Synthesis Live What Lies Underneath... BOB COATES ELENA HERNANDEZ Sedona, AZ Dallas, TX

Monday 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm Sponsored by Monday 7:30 am - 9:00 am (in the pool) Tuesday 7:30 am - 9:00 am (in the pool) Tuesday 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm (Photoshop Finishing Class)

ob will begin his presentation with thoughts on creating artistic images Bincluding how working with textures can take your images to another place. He will chat about how to look for and capture textures and subjects for use in your art. Next, Bob will take 15 to 20 minutes capturing some photos to use from right there on the property. Then it’s back to the classroom to download those images and work side by side, step by step, on creating something new and different. ave fun photographing underwater! Join Elena Hernandez as she demonstrates the art of creating Hunderwater portraits. This will be a hands-on class where participants are encouraged to join Elena in Bob will also show you how to take almost any basic object or subject and turn it into an interesting image the pool to create underwater portraits of a model. There will be a poolside discussion before the underwater and take you down the path of creativity using Photoshop Layers, Blend Modes, Masks, Selections and some demonstrations to discuss safety issues and techniques required for capturing images. Bring an underwater other techniques to add to your artistic arsenal. Finally, Bob will gather up some of your images and share camera or underwater bag to use with your camera. with everyone… and award a prize to his favorite image submitted at the end of the program. On Tuesday, join Elena as she shows you how she finishes her images in Photoshop. Bring your laptop Here’s what you might want to bring to the program: your camera, a laptop loaded with Photoshop, a Wacom computer and work on your images during this classroom presentation. This program is sure to make you (or other similar) Pen Tool, a way to download your images to your computer, and an open mind. You will addicted to fun fine art! have a blast trying some new ideas and experimenting with techniques to take some of your images to a new depth and dimension. Elena has a Masters Degree in Photography and Photographic Craftsman Degree from PPA. She has been awarded the Fuji Masterpiece Awards as well as Kodak Gallery Awards. Her work has appeared in a few Based in Sedona, Arizona, by way of the Caribbean 15 years ago Bob Coates has been fortunate enough to album covers, novels as well as several national and local magazines & newspapers such as: Rangefinder, make a living through photography for the past 20 years. He claims to “specialize in not specializing” but has Professional Photographers of America, Bride and Groom Magazine, People Magazine, Billboard Magazine, concentrated the last 4 or 5 years on Commercial and Fine Art imagery. D Magazine, R and R Records, and the Dallas Morning news to name a few.

April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 Successful Strategies for Maximum Profits Shoot to Thrill ELIZABETH & TREY HOMAN MICHAEL MOWBRAY San Antonio, TX De Forest, WI Wednesday 8:30 am - noon Tuesday 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm Sponsored by Sponsored by

et’s face it... being a photographer is a lot more fun if you have a steady stream of clients and you are Learning a good income. That is why we are so excited to have Elizabeth and Trey Homan closing out our t’s not enough in today’s ultra-competitive market to create quality, standard portraits. You have to separate final day of Summerfest. As the owners of one of the leading studios in the country, they have a lot to share Iyourself from the competition and motivate the client to choose you over their other options. Put simply, with those who want to be successful. you have to “Shoot to Thrill.” You must amaze, stun, and astonish your market with breath-taking portraiture and you must use cool and dramatic lighting. In addition, you must nail your posing and direction and make Elizabeth and Trey have learned that to be consistently successful in today’s photography industry you need your client look awesome. to have a plan. Success doesn’t just happen! You need to plan your portrait session, your products and your sales presentation. In this Summerfest 2015 original program, Elizabeth will explain her thought processes The images on your marketing materials, web site and Facebook page also need to grab the viewer and and methodology for when she is photographing a portrait session. Next, Trey will discuss how to guide your refuse to let go. But it doesn’t stop there. You have to thrill the client at every turn. Your editing, your service clients to purchase the products you want in order to maximize the sales experience. To tie it all together, skills, your studio ambiance, your interaction with your client, your product mix... all must contribute to an they will show you how their marketing keeps sessions coming in their door all year long. incredible experience that turns your clients into motivated fans. On the technical side, Michael Mowbray will show you how he leverages Speedlites to create images that thrill his clients. Elizabeth and Trey have had their studio, Artistic Images, in San Antonio for the past 22 years. Elizabeth has won many, many awards, including Master of Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, Photographer of Michael claims to be “light-hearted and fun without any fluff.” He really enjoys teaching and speaking, and the Year and one of the Top 10 Albums in PPA. Her most coveted award, so far, is earning the designation he loves sharing his knowledge with others to help them improve and grow. His primary areas of specialty of 2014 PPA Elite Member, given to 26 photographers out of 27,000 members. Trey has earned the Certified are high school seniors, weddings, and Speedlites. Michael uses Speedlights for 99.9% of his lighting and Professional Photographer designation from PPA and serves on the PPA Charities Board of Trustees and has a popular book titled “Shoot to Thrill” that was released by Amherst last May. His follow-up book, “The serves as Treasurer of TPPA. Speedlite Studio,” came out in January.

CPP Summer Camp The Power of Art GARY & KATHY MEEK CINDY ROMANO Hot Springs, AR Surprise, AZ Monday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Tuesday 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Sponsored by

exas PPA supports the value and benefits of the PPA Certified Professional Photographer program. Professional Tcredentials are not just handed out. They are EARNED. Photography credentials are no different, and any Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) can tell you that… “There’s a lot of effort that goes into preparing for the CPP exam alone (let alone the image submission review), and that’s why the Certification Preparation Class is so important.”

Join Gary and Kathy Meek as they spend the day reviewing and going over some of the highlights of the PPA Certification test specifications. Math formulas and color theory are often some of the harder things for some to grasp but they will explain it in a way anyone can understand. or Cindy Romano, art is a language. As she says, “It is the language of human greatness, both good and Fbad. It is a place to find ourselves and show our souls. It is an escape.” In her presentation, Cindy will No one day program can adequately prepare you to take the exam. talk about how she came into her art and the hurdles she went through to get there. She will touch on topics However, if you have been working on the material and need to brush up such as: working together, what to look for when creating your art piece, hands-on photographing showing on some key elements, this class is for you. If you have never considered different light, posing and working with clients, and some Photoshop. Participants will photograph a model taking the CPP test, this class will give you some insight and some and work on those images in class. understanding of what it takes to prepare for PPA Certification. Some items you might want to bring include: camera, Pocket Wizard, and a laptop with portable hard drive. Gary and Kathy Meek have the ability to explain these technical concepts from their extensive experience. They’ve taught preparation classes like this Cindy is a devoted, impassioned wife and mother of two children. She is driven by the constant quest to (the CPP exam) since about 1991. They know their stuff. Sure, Gary would capture the true character and personality of every one of her clients. Constantly searching for new ideas that be the first to tell you when he doesn’t know something…but he’ll follow will enhance her portraiture, she believes that “true creativity is found outside your comfort zone” and will that statement up with, “But we’ll find out.” And you will, too. share her studio experiences from the very beginning to the present.

April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 Schedule of Events

Sunday, June 28 Tuesday, June 30 7:00 AM Print Committee Meets 6:00 AM - 7:15 AM Sunrise Photo Session hosted by Doug & Laura Bennett 8:00 AM Judges Breakfast 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “Landscape Photography - The Craft & The Art” - Doug & Laura Bennett 8:30 AM Registration Desk Opens 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “What Lies Underneath…” - Elena Hernandez 9:00 AM Deadline for Hand Carried Print Cases 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “Simply Be: Lifestyle Seniors” - Brad Barton 9:00 AM Print Competition Summer Camp 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM CPP Exam 10:00 AM Print Judging 8:00 AM Past Presidents Breakfast 12:30 PM Lunch 9:00 AM Registration Desk Opens 2:00 PM Print Competition Summer Camp Resumes 9:30 AM Past Presidents Spouse Breakfast 2:00 PM Print Judging Resumes 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM “The Power of Art” - Cindy Romano 6:00 PM Dinner Presented by ACI Lab 7:30 PM Print Committee Meets 11:00 AM Working Lunch: Marketing 1 on 1 Mentoring 12:00 PM Lunch 1:30 PM General Membership Meeting Monday, June 29 2:00 PM Print Committee Meets 2:00 PM Photoshop Theater: Preparing Landscape Images – Doug & Laura Bennett 6:00 AM - 7:15 AM Sunrise Photo Session hosted by Doug & Laura Bennett 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM “Shoot to Thrill” - Michael Mowbray 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “Landscape Photography - The Craft & The Art” – Doug & Laura Bennett Presented by ACI Lab 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “What Lies Underneath…” - Elena Hernandez 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Photoshop Theater: Elena Hernandez 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM “Simply Be: Lifestyle Seniors” - Brad Barton 5:45 PM Group Photo 8:30 AM Registration Desk Opens 6:00 PM Dinner On Your Own 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM “Families: Are You and Your Client Prepared?” - Kari Douma Presented by ACI Lab 7:30 PM Awards Presentation and Dessert Reception 9:30 AM - Noon “CPP Summer Camp” - Gary and Kathy Meek 10:00 PM Print Committee Meets 11:30 AM Working Lunch: Portfolio and Image Mentors 10:00 PM President’s Hospitality 12:00 PM Lunch 12:30 PM TPPA Annual Golf Tournament (MUST Pre-Register... contact Steve Armstrong) Wednesday, July 1 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM “CPP Summer Camp” Resumes 7:30 AM Pick up Print Cases 2:00 PM Working Lunch ends 8:30 - Noon “Successful Strategies for Maximum Profits” - Trey & Elizabeth Homan 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM “Photo-Synthesis Live” - Bob Coates Presented by Millers Professional Imaging Presented by Panasonic 12:00 PM End of Event 6:30 PM TPPA Family Fun Night 10:00 PM President’s Hospitality Check for Schedule Updates at TPPA.org

22nd Annual TPPA Golf Tournament - Monday, June 29th $65 To Pre-Register, contact Steve Armstrong at 512-892-7911 or email: [email protected] per player

April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 New Event... New Location!

La Torretta Resort and Spa This incredible facility features a water park, a beautiful 18 hole golf course, an incredible full service spa, and much more. This resort is a family vacation destination on Lake Conroe. Bring your boat or jet skis and dock them right at the hotel!

The Aqua Park is home to La Torretta Lake Resort’s multiple pools featuring an elegant heated upper pool with an infinity edge that cascades down into a 6,400 square foot Mediterranean pool. Other pools include the Breeze Buster pool, Lay-Z River™ Rapids and the Splash Scape pool with an in-water playground, and the Pollywogs pool for the youngest of water lovers. This Texas resort offers the best way to beat the Texas heat.

Dining options include the Coco Cove Poolside Grill, the Yoi Sushi Bar and the Lakeside Restaurant and Bar, just to name a few! There is a piano bar, a coffee shop and the Energie Lounge. Check out the many dining options at the La Torretta website: www.latorrettalakeresort.com.

The kids will be thoroughly entertained at the Aqua Park, but when it’s time for some dry fun away from the pool, the activity options read like a novel. There is an arcade, miniature golf, and movie nights by the pool. They will enjoy putt-putt, a teen hang-out with video games, making s’mores and other organized activities and games throughout the day led by the La Torretta staff.

Adults will still enjoy evenings with friends sitting by the pool or on the banks of Lake Conroe with a fishing pole in hand.There is a coffee shop, food grill, sushi bar and piano bar just a few steps from the pool. At the end of the day, your family will enjoy plenty of room in your beautifully decorated suite! That’s right – every guest room at La Torretta is a suite! The room rate for TPPA Summerfest attendees is an unbelievable $109 per night. As an added bonus, if you book your room by June 1st, you will get your La Torretta Resort Fee (normally $30) ABSOLUTELY FREE with your stay at La Torretta! Don’t miss out on this huge money-saving offer. Register now and reserve your suite at www.TPPA.org. Just staying in your suite is a vacation in itself.

Family Fun Night After a hard day of water slides, golf, hanging out in the lazy river, going to the spa and learning photography, you and your family are going to need to find something fun to do! That is why we have put together the TPPA Family Fun Night!

You and your family are invited to join us at the TPPA Villa for an evening of fun, food and fellowship! Bring your lawn chairs and your coolers – we will supply the sandwiches, hot dogs, chips and more for an old fashioned summer picnic on the shores of Lake Conroe. Admission to the TPPA Family Fun Night is included with your registration and includes the picnic meal. There will be games and fun and surprises for everyone. The fun starts at 6:30 PM.

Awards Presentation & Dessert Bar We have had it with boring banquet food! Join us on Tuesday at 7:30 pm for an evening of sweet satisfaction! We will begin with the children’s awards for the Kids Foto Kontest. Every kid who participates will be recognized and we will announce the winners from each category. The excitement continues as we announce and unveil the winners from the TPPA Annual Print Competition. Then, be sure to hang around as we are going to delight your taste buds with something sweet at the “dessert reception.” The dessert bar is included with your registration. Kids and guest can purchase a ticket for the dessert reception for only $12.

This will be an event to remember. So, make plans to attend and bring the entire family!

Make Your Room Reservations & Summerfest Registration at www.TPPA.org

April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 he purpose of this competition is to allow photographers to enter photographic prints to be judged against a Standard of Excellence and to assist the Tentrants in preparation for PPA District or International Print Competition. The 12 Elements of a Merit Image (For more information, go to www.ppa.com/ipc.) will be used in accessing each image and applying a final score. With this competition, TPPA members are also eligible for awards and TPPA Points that count toward the Associate and Full Fellowship Degrees within TPPA.

Rules: 1. Entrants may submit up to 4 physical prints or digital entries and one album (any event) physical or digital. Album scores are not tabulated for overall print case scores, ie: Texas Top 10 or 4 for 4. Size uploaded images at 4,000 pixels on the long side. That includes album spreads. Digital Albums must have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998 and saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10. 2. All entries must be uploaded/registered at www.printcompetition.com. Click on “Free Registration of a New User” or simply log in if you already have an account. Album entries must be in their own zipped folder before uploading. You will then need to deliver your physical prints and/or album to the print room in the La Torretta Conference Center by 9am on Sunday, June 28th. 3. Prints/albums must be named before uploading in the following format: 001, 002, 003, 004, 005 (005 if entering an album). 4. No changes to your entry are permitted once the entry deadline has passed. No refunds will be issued after the entry fee is paid. 5. Prints must be a minimum of 80 square inches (8×10) and a maximum of 480 square inches (20×24) and a recommended thickness of 1/8th inch. The longest dimension of any print cannot exceed 24 inches. 6. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry. 5. No texture or sharp edges that may damage another maker’s print is allowed. Images on metal are allowed if corners are rounded. A thickness exception will be made for metal images. 6. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment of any kind. 7. No two entries shall be of the same subject, even if the subject is not a dominate subject in the image. This also applies to images entered while also appearing in an album of the same case. 8. Once an image has been awarded a score of 80 or above, it cannot be entered again at the TPPA Summer Seminar Print Competition. 9. Entries under the Master Artist category must have guide prints on the face of the overall canvas.

Registration: Registration closes on June 27th, 5pm. After that, your case must be registered on site. On site registration closes on Sunday, June 28th, 9am. Registration is $39 per case until the June 27th deadline. $59 if registering on-site.

Eligibility: 1. Entrant must have captured and created the original exposure with the exception of Master Artist Entries. For these entries, the entrant is being judged on his/her ability to combine different elements/images. The entrant does not have to be the original creator of the elements in the final image. 2. All processing, manipulation and printing or rendering, were done by the entrant or under their direct supervision. 3. The entrant has obtained and has access to all necessary releases (model or property) and agrees to hold TPPA harmless against all claims and liabilities arising out of TPPA’s display, publication and promotion or other use of each image submitted to TPPA. 4. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry. 5. Entrants may enter a maximum of four entries + one event album, physical or digital. 6. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment. 7. No two entries may be of the same subject. Includes prints and albums. (continued)

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 8. Entrant may enter a maximum of 4 prints and one album. 9. Entry media is physical prints only, but albums can be entered physically or digitally. Registration Form 10. Entrant must enter under the following categories.

Registration for TPPA Summerfest is only $149. This includes the picnic meal on Monday evening and the dessert reception after the awards PORTRAIT/WEDDING: Consists of portrait or wedding images. presentation on Tuesday. Register here or online at www.TPPA.org.

ILLUSTRATIVE: Consists of commercial/industrial images, scenics, pictorials, digital paintings, But wait, there’s more! With the TPPA Summerfest “Buddy Pass” where TWO can register for only $199. Register your spouse, a friend, a studio and similar subject matter. employee or invite someone who has never been a part of TPPA. You BOTH get full registration and can enjoy all of the evening activities.

MASTER ARTIST: Combined/composited images or heavily artworked images. Guide Prints We invite you to bring your kids to Family Fun Night on Monday. Enjoy the free picnic, games and fun on the shores of Lake Conroe. The dessert must be on the overall canvas along with the finished image. reception on Tuesday is also included with your registration. Unregistered kids and guests can enjoy the desserts for only $12 per person. EVENT ALBUM: Events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, portrait and storytelling albums, etc. Includes Multi-Maker Albums. One Summerfest Registration for one person only (includes Dessert Bar Reception) ...... $149

One Summerfest “Buddy Pass” any two people (includes Dessert Bar Reception) for only ...... $199

One Summerfest “Non-member” Registration (includes Dessert Bar Reception) ...... $199

_____ Student Registration (includes Dessert Bar Reception) @ $50 per student ...... ____ mage competition will never be the same. Join the fun of watching the live stream of the TPPA Annual Image Competition from Club 79! I _____ Dessert Bar tickets for Guest and/or Child (if not registered above) @ $12 per person...... ____ There will be snacks and a cash bar (after lunch) and big screens broadcasting both judging rooms. You can cheer for your favorite prints, (Paid Registration includes the Dessert Bar Reception) shout at the TV, high five your neighbor or tell the judges where to stick it! Sound fun? …or would you rather sit quietly in a dark room with your hands in your lap? Well, you can do that, too! _____ Annual TPPA Golf Scramble: Monday, June 29, La Torretta Resort @ $65 per person...... ____ “Club 79…because they can’t all be 80’s!” NOTE: (please complete Golf Registration form online)

Visa MC AmXp__ Card # TOTAL $______

3-digit code back of card (4 for AmExp) Zip Code on CC Billing Address

Exp. Date Name on Card: Signature:

Names Registering _ La Torretta Lakeside Resort add’l names _ Conroe, Texas Company Name __ Rates: $109 All Rooms are Suites Address Reservations: 936-448-4400 or book online at City State Zip _ www.TPPA.org Day Phone # Night Phone # ATTENTION: Cut-Off Date for Email Address______these rates is June 1, 2015 Is this your first TPPA Summer Seminar? yes no ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS

Would you like to work on the Print Committee? Contact Stephanie Ludlow at 512-246-0063 or [email protected] Please Print Legibly, Thanks! Please Print Legibly, *Remember* Mail Your Registration TODAY to: Seminar Dates... Texas PPA P.O. Box 1120 June 28 - July 1 Caldwell, TX 77836 fax 979-272-5201...... or Register Online at www.tppa.org

April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 “Music Lesson” was created by Gail Nogle in 2003 for Crystal Charity Ball, an organization benefitting children’s charities in Dallas County. The Old Red courthouse in downtown Dallas was one of the beneficiaries that year for The 50th Anniversary Project. The money raised went toward renovating the Old Red Courthouse in downtown Dallas and creating the Crystal Charity Ball Children’s Learning Center within the Old Red Museum.

Nogle was asked to submit 25 photographs taken in the courthouse before renovations began to be used in the Crystal Charity Ball datebook. The building was completely empty but she had to come up with creative photographs with children to represent the gift that they had received from CCB. Once she was on the site, Gail noticed the wide open spaces, high arched windows, and 15 foot ceilings. “It was a photographer’s dream!” she explains.

After much research and thought, she decided to do some Norman Rockwell style portraits. The man in the photos is a friend of her’s who plays and repairs violins and the boy is the son of a client. The image was accepted into the Photography Hall of Fame in Oklahoma.

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 31 Trophy: Best Illustrative/Commercial SWPPA Best of Show “Permission to Buzz the Tower” by Chris Smith of Midlothian, Texas Canon Photographer Par Excellence Award “I See Her In My Dreams” by Maria Bernal of Cedar Park, Texas

Trophy: Best Portrait of an Animal “Brr... I Should Have Brought My Fur Coat” by Abby Zimmer Malone of Benton, Arkansas Trophy: Best Artist “A Pirate’s Life for Me” by Cristie Reddehase of Spring, Texas

Trophy: Best Senior Portrait “Her Latest Masterpiece” by Cris Duncan of Lubbock, Texas

Kodak Gallery Award “In Flight Meal” by Janel Randall of Saginaw, Texas Trophy: Best First Time Entry “Peruvian Matriarch” Trophy: Best Portrait by Lisa Sego of Corrales, New Mexico Fuji Masterpiece Award “Pointe of Grace” Trophy: Best Wedding Portrait SUNSET LEXJET Best Print by Dawn Muncy of Enid, Oklahoma Fuji Masterpiece Award “Kung POW Chicken!” “She’s Got a Way” by Tracye Gibson of Fort Worth, Texas by Andrew Faulds of Mesa, Arizona

Trophy: Best Portrait of a Child “Addy Rattles On” by Mary Waters of Perry, Oklahoma

Canon Artist Par Excellence Award Trophy: Best Nature/Landscape Trophy: Best Event Album ASP Regional Medallion Award “A Nod to Norman” “Pastoral Couture” “My Heart - My Soul - My Everything” “Made in Detroit” by Ann Naugher of Tulsa, Oklahoma by Douglas Bennett of Colorado Springs, Colorado by Francie Baltazar Stonestreet of Kingwood, Texas by Barry Nelson of Lubbock, Texas

32 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 33 hotographing sports teams and individual portraits outdoors can be tricky don’t be. Find a mentor or attend a seminar or Texas School class and get Pat times. How should I pose them... standing or kneeling? How should some hands-on experience using OCF. I promise you that it will change your I arrange the group? Is the coach getting upset with me for taking too much images overnight. time? With all of those worries, figuring out how to light the players and team in full sunlight doesn’t need to be one of them. As a side note, I’ll tell you that we do not photograph using ETTL. In fact, I’m not really a big fan of ETTL. I realize that many photographers use it My first experience with photographing sports teams was about 12 years very successfully but let’s just say I’m too much of a control freak. So, for ago. I was faced with bright sunlight, a lot of wind, and impatient parents our sports photography, we use Vivitar 285 flashes. They are chunky, tough, and coaches. Nothing seemed to be on my side. After photographing several and fully manual for our purposes. With one of them mounted on an EZ-2 teams like this and learning to “muddle through,” I knew there had to be a light stand (which goes from light stand to stick just by picking it up and better way. There was! letting the legs fold), we can light from one player to an entire team. Give me two or three of these and I’m good for a larger team or studio quality images While attending Imaging USA one year, I stumbled into a sports inside a dark gym. photography seminar that totally changed the way I approach sports teams and individual images today. It was another one of those benefits of With the sun at their back, the second piece of equipment you really need belonging to PPA and TPPA, by the way. I immediately saw the error of my is a light meter. Remember those? We are partial to Sekonic but any meter ways, slapped my forehead, and saw the light... literally! What I learned that with incident light metering mode is a must. Spot metering capability is day was a very basic approach to sports lighting that I now use on every another definite plus as well. If you use a light meter religiously as I do, you outdoor sports session today. Here is how it works. understand what I’m talking about. If you rarely use one at all... get one! It is one piece of equipment that will dramatically improve your images. You will Let’s say you show up for an outdoor T&I (team and individual) session shoot less, edit less, charge more... and sleep better. and it’s 3:00 in the afternoon and the sun is about three hours from setting. Actually, the sun is somewhat directional but it is still very bright and harsh. Next, take a reflective meter reading on the brightest area of your Conventional wisdom teaches that you turn the subject so that the sun is background. You can even do this “in-camera” by focusing on the brightest your main “modeling” light and then figure out a way to deal with all of part of your background. The meter in your camera is a reflective meter. the squinting. The end result is usually a flat, harshly lit image with hard shadows and several inevitable “closed eyes.” But if you place the subject One minor drawback to using the Vivitar flash with today’s digital cameras is under a tree or shade, you end up with a blown-out background. Here’s how that it will not sync with higher shutter speeds. This means that you can only we handle the situation. sync at 1/200 of a second or slower. This is important to know because you can get a very nasty surprise if you try to sync at faster shutter speeds! Place your subject so that the sun is at their back. That’s right... at their back. The real success to this is using off-camera flash (OCF), which we For this demonstration, let’s say that the reflective meter reading on the do 99.99% of the time now. If you’re a bit squeamish about using OCF, brightest part of the background is 1/250 second at f8. Now you know where

34 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Another tip I’ve found to obtain a more “shallow” depth of field is to use a Neutral Density filter. By adding this filter to your lens, your camera exposure will change, allowing you to drop from f8 to as low as f4. Viola! A shallower depth of field!

You can also easily add a second off-camera flash to the other side if you wish, especially for team images, to ensure the light ratio across their face is not too high. For sports images, however, I like the high light ratio. Even when you are photographing outdoors, keep in mind how you would light the same subject in the studio and try to keep you main light “directional.” Even though these are just sports photos, the guys want to look tough and the girls want to look cute. With this method of lighting, you end up with a nice main light with beautiful hair and rim lighting.

One other advantage to this setup is that anyone shooting over your shoulder will think you’ve lost your mind! They can plainly see that the subject is dark and they will be clueless as to how you can make it work. Furthermore, they can’t get the photo over your shoulder anyway because they don’t have off-camera flash! Just imagine what they think when your images arrive and they are beautifully lit and their iPhone images are dark with a blown-out background! In the end, you are the hero of the day.

Pose the subject with the sun to their back and use off-camera flash. Randy Pollard Cr. Photog, CPP and his wife Laura People trying to shoot over your shoulder will think you’ve lost your mind! Ann Pollard Cr. Photog, CPP own L-Ann Imaging and On the Edge Photography in Victoria, Texas. While L-Ann Imaging is their portrait studio, OTE is where Randy and his son Erick create their sports portraits for athletes in High School down to 3 year olds, including sports banners for the older athletes. Their website is www.getontheedge.com. to meter your flash. I basically try to meter my flash (main light) about the same as the background. You can easily take an incident reading of the ambient light falling on the background, but you also need to consider the reflectivity of what’s behind your subject. Is it green grass or dead brown grass? Is there cement or dark asphalt back there? Green grass will not be as reflective as brown grass and asphalt will not be as reflective as cement.

So, if I’m matching my ambient light, I’ll set my main light at f8 as well. I’ve discovered that more than about 1/3 of a stop more than the ambient may throw shadows where I don’t want them. So, my camera setting is 1/250 of a second, ISO 100, and f8.

To tweak the background lighter, slow down the shutter a bit. If you need the background a little darker, add a bit more strobe and change the aperture accordingly. By using these guidelines, I can usually hit it pretty close on the first try.

Your next obvious question is probably “how do you control depth of field at f8?” To answer that question, remember that there are three ways to control depth of field... and f-stop is only one of them. So, just step closer to the subject or use a longer focal length lens to obtain your desired depth of field.

There is a free smartphone app called “Simple DOF” that allows you to input your f-stop, focal length, and distance from your subject to tell you how much in front and behind your subject will be in focus. For team images, this app is priceless!

As a bonus tip, remember that depth of field plays out like this... about 1/3 of the field is in front of your subject and about 2/3 of it is behind your subject. This is critical when determining where you focus on the team image. For example, if you have three rows in the group and your depth of field is a total of 4 feet and you focus on the back row of players, the front row will be soft. Your focus point should be on the second row for the best sharpness.

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 37 Contributors: Brazos Valley - Kathy Norwood; Heart of Texas - Tom Sergent; Houston - Nicki Evans; South Plains - Barry Nelson

Brazos Valley - Amy Zellmer, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was the guest brought her Virtual Background Machine and demonstrated how she uses it speaker at the February meeting of the Brazos Valley Guild. Amy started on location for her sports images. her photography career in 1997 and moved into her first retail location in 2004. In 2008, she served as the President of Twin Cities PPA and earned her Craftsman Degree in 2009. Amy’s program was presented in two parts South Plains - In February the South Plains PPA guild was very excited which consisted of basic marketing strategies and then creative promotionals to feature Kimberly Smith. Kim is a Master Photographer and her studio that generated funds during the slow times of the year. Basic marketing is in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Kim’s presentation was centered around print strategies consisted of email marketing, Social media, networking, Groupon competition... what it is, how it works, and why it’s important in business. specials and charities. The creative promo’s ranged from Girls Night Out, She covered the 12 elements of a merit print and showcased some of her Dog Days of Winter, Cute Kid Contests, Christmas in September to push own merited and loan collection images, as well as some that just missed Christmas cards in September. the mark. It was very informative and inspirational. She closed her program with a powerful presentation and tribute to her late sister and gave a great explanation of why what we do as photographers is important and impacts Heart of Texas - The January speaker for the Heart of Texas Guild was people’s lives. Tim Babiak. His program, “De-mystifying Sales,” outlined his approach to sales coupled with an in-depth knowledge of photography. Everyone left enthusiastic about sales and with new material to help boost our sales. Magazine Subscriptions Available - You can now send a magazine The new Board of Directors was also introduced. They are: Luke Stokes, subscription for the Texas Professional Photographer to a friend. A one year President; Rhonda Williams, Vice-President; and Darrell Vickers, Secretary/ subscription is only $12 (reg. $18). Order a subscription online at: www. Treasurer. In the print competition, the Professional Photographer of the TexasProPhotoMagazine.com. Year was won by Rhonda Williams. Second place went to Heather Hitt and third place went to Cecy Ayala. In the Associate Photographer of the Year competition, first place went to Billy Lauderdale, second place went to Farrell Vickers, and third place went to Cathy Steed. In the monthly People’s Choice Competition, first place went to Rhonda Williams, while Tom Sergent placed second and Shelly Taylor placed third.

Amy Zellmer was the guest speaker at the February meeting, coming all the way from St. Paul, Minnesota. Amy is a self-proclaimed “Marketing- Genius” and shared many different marketing ideas to prove it. She finished up by giving out a bunch of gifts from her sponsor, ACI Lab. Winners in the Professional Photographers Division were: Rhonda Williams, first place; Jill Hubbert, second place; and Cecy Ayala, third place. Winners in the Associate Division were: Darrell Vickers, first place; Rick Duhrkopf, second place; and Billy Lauderdale, third place. Winners of the People’s Choice were: Rick Duhrkopf, first place; Darrel Vickers, second place; with Jill Hubbert and Rhonda Williams tied for third place. Black and White winners were: Darrell Vickers, first place; Cecy Ayala, second place; and Jill Hubbert, third place.

Houston - Luke Edmonson was the guest speaker for the February meeting of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston. Some of his key points included actively working to “be present” in all parts of your life and business, letting knowledge and new ideas percolate instead of trying to conquer them all at once, working on problems you can solve now instead of ones you can’t, looking inside yourself to see why you shoot an image and shooting with empathy. During the meeting, there were 40 entries in the image competition. In the active division, Kelly Willis placed first and second and Kathy Kinser placed third. In the masters division, Dixie Dobbins placed first, Karen Butts placed second and Armando Chacon placed third.

On February 22, Jenny Eisenhauer of Jenny Rhea Photography traveled from Austin to share her program “Winning with High School Sports.” She shared how she books sports teams, creates products they can’t live without, and makes them so happy they want to use her year after year. Jenny also

Texas Professional Photographer April/May 2015 39 good way to increase your chances of finding Agood portrait lighting on location is to work with “sweet light.” Sweet light is found about thirty minutes before sunrise or about thirty minutes after sunset. When the sun is below the horizon, it yields bounced light, not the hard light that is produced when the sun is higher in the sky.

The length of time that sweet light will be available to you depends on the weather conditions you are faced with that day. For example, on an overcast day, you may run out of light more quickly than you would on a clear or partly cloudy day.

Using sweet light is the easiest way to create an available light portrait. The lower angle that the light originates from is much more flattering than overhead light and the light is simply less contrasty during this time. Getting great lighting is a snap. Just go outside and turn your subject’s face toward the setting or rising sun or the brightest part of the sky.

40 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer Julieanne Kost at Texas School TWO PRESENTATIONS ON APRIL 25 IN DALLAS

DON DICKSON texas school director

ulieanne Kost returns to Texas School with two special presentations on in Adobe Lightroom. Master the tools needed to enhance, refine and JSaturday, April 25 at the InterContinental Hotel in Dallas. Photographers add creative effects to your images using both global and local non- who have seen Julieanne’s programs know that she brings a fast-paced, destructive image adjustments including color and tonal enhancements, information-packed program. If you have never seen her program, then you custom conversions to black and white, and special vintage and are in for something very special. The price to attend both programs is only traditional darkroom effects. Learn how to create presets to quickly $47 if you have registered for Texas School. Admission is $97 if you have apply these effects to multiple images and prepare your images for final not registered. delivery.

Refining Your Creative Vision Using Lightroom’s Develop Module Photoshop CC 2015 – Taking Your Images to the Next Level (Saturday, April 25 10am – 1pm) Discover how to add your personal (Saturday, April 25 2pm – 5pm) With millions of images being style to your images by harnessing the power within the Develop module uploaded daily, how will you create distinct images that attract attention in a crowded landscape? Let Julieanne Kost demonstrate how Photoshop can be a significant and compelling part of the equation. Instead of using Photoshop to fix problems that can be solved in capture, Julieanne will demonstrate how to take your images to the next level in post process using the powerful features of Photoshop CC. Learn how to advance your work using layers, masking, retouching, and other persuasive manipulation techniques in subtle and sophisticated ways – shortening the distance between your idea and the sharing of your final photograph. Attend this session for a mixture of practical tips and inspiration that will help you further your craft. To register, go to: www.texasschool.org/ julieann-kost/.

If you’ve never experienced Texas School then you have missed out on one of the best learning experiences in the world that is available to photographers. There will be 36 classes covering many different topics and all are designed to help your business grow and be successful. As everyone knows, the photography industry is changing. You have to be on top of your game to be successful. Texas School offers everyone the best education in the country and at the most affordable price.

Along with classroom instruction there is a fun and exciting social life at Texas School with parties, meal events, entertainment, and an impressive trade show. Another good reason to attend is that all evening meals will be FREE thanks to our many sponsors. The Big Texas School Shoot Out will also be back. Bring your camera and you’ll be able to photograph top models, cars, motorcycles, and much more. In addition, there will be an awesome Trade Show with prices that are only good at this one event.

For more information on this and other events at the Texas School of Professional Photography, go to: www.texasschool.org.

42 April/May 2015 Texas Professional Photographer